Page 101 of Single Mom's Firemen

“Rehab was a great choice,” Eric politely replies.

She chuckles dryly. “Yeah, I said the same thing until I woke up the next day, dying for a drink. It was hell on earth but I made it,” she says and shows me a six-month sobriety chip. “I made my peace with a lot of my erroneous choices during my stay at the clinic. I’ve gone through therapy, the twelve steps and whatnot. I’ve been putting my life back together, Halle, brick by brick, for the first time in a very long time.”

“Honestly, I’m glad to hear that,” I say, still cautious and wary.

“I messed up on so many levels with you, honey. Can I ever make it up to you? Will you ever find it in your heart to forgive me?”

The Danson brothers are watching us with renewed interest, jaws dropped and eyes wide as they follow the awkward thread of this conversation.

“You’re only human,” I exhale sharply. “You did the best you could with what you knew.”

“True, but I could have done so much better,” she says, tears pooling in her eyes.

“The past is the past for a reason, Shauna,” I reply. “I don’t think I’m ready to dredge any of it up so you can get some sort of closure. I’m still getting used to a peaceful life. Hell, I’m starting my first fashion boutique job next month uptown. I’m finally close to pursuing the career I’ve always wanted.”

She lights up as she hears the news. “Good for you, honey. I never said it enough, but I am proud of you. I only wish I’d been a better mother. Maybe I would’ve smelled someone like Colby Nash from a mile away.”

“He had everybody fooled,” I say, shaking my head. “I doubt you would’ve been able to do much about him.”

“I’m truly sorry, Halle,” she sighs again.

“It’s fine. It’s over.”

Shauna takes a step closer. “No, it’s not fine. I understand you don’t want to talk about any of it. Not now, not today, maybe not anytime soon, but is there anything, anything at all that I can do to at least start making it up to you? I want to fix things, Halle. I’ve been absent and useless as a mother for far too long.”

Truth be told, I’ve always wanted to hear her say these words, especially while growing up. I never expected Shauna to get to this point, though. I’d given up. In the months after Colby’s death, I kept hoping she’d come around to at least check up on me. At least now I know why she didn’t.

“They had a strict, no cellphone, no outside communication policy at the clinic,” Shauna says, as if reading my mind. “So many times, I thought about reaching out.”

“You could’ve done that before you went in,” Chase mutters. It gets him some heavy scowls from his brothers, but he doesn’t seem to care. Always so protective of me.

“I was too drunk, day in and day out. Too ashamed. My brain wasn’t working properly,” Shauna says. “I knew I needed to get clean before I could reach out. So, here I am. Reaching out,” she adds, shifting her focus back on me. “I’m not expecting a miracle, Halle. But I hope you’re at least willing to consider giving me another chance. Some place to start, maybe. However, I also understand it’s within your right to turn me away.”

I think about it for a while.

My gaze wanders around. It settles on Eric, and I can see the hope twinkling in his blue eyes. More than once, he suggested that I try to patch things up with my mother, if only for my peace of mind. I never really said no to the idea, but since I couldn’t reach Shauna, I set the whole endeavor aside shortly after the wedding.

Chase, on the other hand, looks apprehensive. He doesn’t trust her, and I can’t blame him. He rarely trusts anybody, especially people who have repeatedly disappointed or hurt me in one way or another. He would never interfere with my decision-making process, though. He’d support me, no matter what.

Wyatt looks like he’s somewhere right in the middle, tiptoeing along the fence. He’s wary of Shauna but he is also curious about what I will say. I know what I want to say but I wonder if I’m able to say it. There are so many emotions swirling through my soul right now. I didn’t expect my Sunday to unravel like this.

“How about we start with a glass of lemonade and a slice of cheesecake?” I ask Shauna, then look at Wyatt. “Do we still have any left from yesterday?”

“Yeah, pretty sure I saved us a few slices,” Wyatt nods slowly.

Shauna gives me a surprised smile. “Really?”

“Yeah, why not. Johnny’s napping, but the kids are upstairs playing. Maybe you’d like to see them again,” I say with a half-smile. “What do you say, Shauna?”

“It would be my pleasure,” she replies, then throws her arms around me and catches me in a tight hug. “Thank you so much.”

It feels good. Somewhat unfamiliar, since Shauna was never one for displays of affection, but good. Really good. It’s as if my whole life is falling back into place one piece at a time, until a blissful balance is restored, and I can only be thankful for this moment.

“Shauna, if you don’t mind me asking,” Eric politely intervenes. “How’d you know where to find us?”

She turns to look at him for a second. “Marie. She’s the one who got in touch with me, actually. I don’t know how she found out where I was—”

“Charlie,” Chase grumbles and rolls his eyes. “Mom can ask the guy for anything and he will bend over backwards if it gets him a slice of her peach cobbler. The sellout.”

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